165 lawyers earn board certification.

The Board of Legal Specialization and Education congratulates the 165 lawyers who, in 2014, earned Florida Bar board certification, a designation that places them among the only group of Florida lawyers who may use the terms "specialist," "expert," or "B.C.S." for board certified specialist when referring to their legal credentials. Board certified lawyers are "evaluated for professionalism and tested for expertise."

Board certification evaluates attorneys' special knowledge, skills, and proficiency in various areas of law, professionalism, and ethics in practice. About 4,600 of Florida's nearly 99,000 lawyers have earned board certification. Florida offers 24 specialty areas for board certification, more than any other state.

"Board certification is one of the highest recognitions a lawyer in Florida can receive," said Bar President Greg Coleman. "The very difficult testing and extensive background peer review to confirm professional conduct is such a high standard that less than 5 percent of our total membership has achieved this level of recognition. All board certified attorneys should be extremely proud of their accomplishment."

Board of Legal Specialization and Education Chair Jack Pelzer states that board certification is a significant career milestone.

"Members of the public may feel confident that when they speak with a board certified lawyer, they are speaking with an expert in the field," Pelzer said. "Board certified lawyers are set apart because their expertise and professionalism have been objectively verified through rigorous examination and peer review."

Lawyers who earned board certification in 2014:

Appellate Practice

Courtney Brewer, Tallahassee Ezequiel Lugo, Tampa Amy L. Miles, Tampa Mark Miller, Palm Beach Gardens Nichole J. Segal, West Palm Beach

Aviation Law

Galen D. Bauer, Jacksonville Jonathan Levy, Naples Mark Kelley Schwartz, Southfield, MI Juan Ricardo Serrano, Ft. Lauderdale

Business Litigation

Morgan Ray Bentley, Sarasota Robert David Eckard, Palm Harbor Edward Louis Larsen, Naples Mario M. Ruiz, Miami Kimberly Lynn Sharpe, Clearwater George Louis Sigalos, Boca Raton Joshua Byrne Spector, Miami Bart R. Valdes, Tampa James C. Valenti, Lakeland

City, County and Local Government Law

Sarah E. Blackwell, Sarasota D. Michael Chesser, Shalimar Thomas A. Cloud, Orlando Wayne Ross Coment, Vero Beach Alison Link Dawley, Melbourne Dean Richard DiRose, Tampa Darren Jay Elkind, Deltona Eileen Del Carmen Fernandez, Orlando...